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History of Remote Control Vehicles

Radio controlled vehicles are common today and many people enjoy them as a hobby in one way or another. There are numerous choices of RC vehicles, including cars, airplanes and helicopters. Various types of power systems are available, too. It has only been 60 years or so since the first radio controlled vehicles for consumers appeared. Examining the history of radio controlled vehicles shows that the road to prominence hasn't always been a direct one.

The First RC Vehicles
- RC airplanes arrived in the 1950s.
  
  Technically speaking, the first RC vehicles were not built for public use. Like many forms of technology, the first radio controlled vehicles were made for war. The Germans used radio controlled missiles during World War II. The first RC vehicles for civilian use, though, were radio controlled airplanes. First appearing in the 1950s, they were bulky and had short range capabilities. The batteries were large and inefficient. It was enough to pique the interest of hobbyists, though.
The 1960s
- The first RC cars emerged in the 1960s.
  
  By the 1960s, RC airplanes were becoming popular and some strides had been made towards modernization and refinement. RC cars were first seen in the 1960s. These vehicles were generally homemade. A gasoline powered RC airplane engine was fitted to a model car and the radio controlled car hobby was born. Late in the decade some manufacturers began to produce cars. Similarly, some hobbyists began to experiment with radio controlled helicopters in the late 1960s.
The 1970s
- The first consumer RC helicopters emerged in the 1970s.
  
  The 1970s was a big decade for all forms of radio controlled vehicles. Airplanes became more reliable. Controls were upgraded and many new options were introduced. RC cars also saw rapid growth. New companies began manufacturing the vehicles and new sizes, competitions and power options emerged. The first true consumer production radio controlled helicopters were introduced early in 1972. As all forms of RC vehicles gained a higher visibility, public interest in the hobby was building.
The 1980s
- The biggest advances in the 1980s came in RC cars.
  
  The real news in the 1980s was in the field of RC cars. Off road cars were introduced. New sizes also came onto the market. In addition, there was a shift from almost exclusively gasoline powered vehicles to include cars powered by electricity or nitro. The world of RC airplanes didn't stand still, but the changes were more gradual, essentially refining the products and concepts. The evolution of RC helicopters in the 1980s was similarly smooth and steady.
The Present and Future
- Since the explosion of options in RC cars that took place in the 1980s, the world of RC vehicles has been more stable. The technology of all RC vehicles have advanced, but more slowly. In addition RC boats and hovercrafts are available today. Interest peaked in the 1980s and has been on a decline since, but the hobby is still very much alive.

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